Toilet stool ventilating means



am. 27, 1970 G 3,491,382

Filed May 1, 1967 TOILET swoon VENTILATING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CLARENCE E. POISTER BY Z'a Q 6 ATTORNEYS Jana-1,1970" 'c ipolsmfi 3,491,382

TOILET s TooL VENT-ILATING MEANS Filed May 1, 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CLARENCE E. POISTER AT ORNEYS United States Patent O 3,491,382 TOILET STOOL VENTILATING MEANS Clarence E. Poister, PO. Box 68, Fairview, Kans. 66425 Filed May 1, 1967, Ser. No. 634,969 Int. Cl. E03d 9/05; A47k 13/30 US. Cl. 4-217 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to ventilated toilet stools and, more particularly, to an air filtering apparatus having an inlet air chamber attachable to a conventional toilet seat or bowl to transfer air therefrom into a filter structure for purification. More specifically, this invention relates to a toilet stool ventilating apparatus having air inlet sections adjacent the upper open rim portion of the toilet bowl operable to convey air therefrom to a remote filter structure for removing odors therein by an activated charcoal filter element. Additionally, this invention relates to a toilet stool ventilating means having an air chamber constructed within an upper rim portion of a toilet bowl to convey air from within the bowl to a remote filtering structure for the purification thereof.

DISCLOSURE Numerous types of toilet stool ventilating devices are known to the prior art operable to remove odors from air within a toilet bowl. However, these devices are generally unsightly in appearance, inefficient in operation, and costly to manufacture. Also, the prior art ventilating devices norm-ally require specially designed toilet bowls and/or seats and are not readily adaptable to conventional toilet stool structures. The common means of ventilating a bathroom area by a ceiling or wall vent is generally unsatisfactory as the heated or air conditioned atmosphere is removed resulting in monetary waste plus numerous problems in maintaining a desired air temperature condition.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a new toilet stool ventilating means is provided usable on a stool having a toilet bowl supported on a ground sur face with a flushing tank connected thereto operable to supply flushing fluid to the bowl in a conventional manner. The toilet stool ventilating means includes an air chamber means connectible to the toilet seat or to the bowl; a filter means operable to draw air therethrough and remove odors therefrom; conduit means connected to the air chamber means and the filter means to convey air from the toilet bowl; and control means connected to the toilet seat operable under an in-use condition to actuate the filter means. The air chamber means overlies the upper enlarged opening of the toilet bowl and has substantial open inlet areas to receive air from the bowl to be conveyed to the filter means under vacuum pressure. The filter means includes a housing having a blower therein to move air through an inlet section transversely of a replaceable filter member and to discharge the purified air through an outlet section to the surrounding area,

In accordance with a second embodiment of this invention, a toilet stool ventilating means is provided including a specially constructed toilet bowl with an upper rim portion thereof provided with an annular air chamber having 3,491,382 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 an elongated slot opening into the upper peripheral section of the toilet bowl. A filter means is connected by a conduit means to the air chamber whereupon air is readily movable from within the toilet bowl upwardly and laterally under vacuum pressure through the elongated slot into the air chamber for conveyance into the filter means for the purification thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new toilet stool ventilating means overcoming the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toilet stool ventilating means having an inlet air chamber structure readily connectible to a conventional toilet seat or rim portion of a toilet bowl for the conveyance of air therefrom to a remotely located filter means.

One other object of this invention is to provide a toilet stool ventilating means including an annularly shaped chamber means positioned in overlying relationship to the enlarged upper opening of a toilet bowl so as to convey air therefrom to a filter means and having control means operable to activate the filter means upon an in use condition of the toilet seat member positioned above and adjacent the chamber means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toilet stool ventilating means which may be used with any standard toilet stool structure, looks substantially the same as any conventional toilet stool arrangement, may be easily cleaned to maintain a sanitary condition, and is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction.

One further object of this invention is to provide a toilet stool ventilating means mountable on a conventional toilet stool between the toilet seat member and the upper rim portion of the toilet bowl operable to efficiently and eifectively remove air from within the toilet bowl to a remotely located filter means for movement through a charcoal filtering medium for the purification thereof and discharge into the surrounding atmosphere.

Still one further object of this invention is to provide a toilet stool ventilating means including a toilet stool having a bowl portion with an upper rim flange portion provided with an annular air chamber therein with a slotted opening into the upper enlarged open end of the toilet bowl to remove air therefrom to a remote filter means.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional toilet stool structure having the ventilating means of this invention connected thereto with portions of a toilet seat member broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the ventilating means of this invention connected to a toilet stool having portions broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a filter means of the ventilating means of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the ventilating means of this invention having a toilet bowl portion shown in sectional view for clarity; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a third embodiment of the ventilating means of this invention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new toilet stool venti- I! lating means of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structures. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a toilet stool structure indicated generally at 10, is shown having the toilet stool ventilating means 12 of this invention connected thereto. The toilet stool structure is substantially conventional having a toilet bowl 14 mounted on a floor surface 15 and a flushing tank 17 mounted on the rearward upper portion of the bowl 14 in an elevated relationship. The flushing tank 17 is provided with a handle member 18 operable in a conventional manner to release fluid from therewithin to the toiiet bowl 14 for flushing purposes. The toilet bowl 14 is provided with a water section 20 and an integral upper rim section 22 defining the periphery of an enlarged opening 23. A stool seat 25 is pivotally connected to the bowl 14 in adjacent, spaced relationship to the opening 2 3 and engageable with the rim section 22 in a closed position. The seat 25 is provided with a hinge 27 connected to a clamp means 29 secured to the rim section 22.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toilet stool ventilating means 12 includes an air chamber means 31 connected to the stool seat 25; a filter means, 33 mounted on the floor surface 15 positioned behind the bowl 14 and below the flushing tank 17; a conduit means 34 connected to the chamber means 31 and the filter means 33 for air conveyance therebetween; and control means 36 connected to the clamp means 29 for controlied energization of the filter means 33 as will be explained.

The air chamber means 31 is of a generally oval shape and rectangular in transverse cross section having an upper flat surface with a laterally, outwardly extended flange section 37. The surface 35 is mounted against the undersurface of the stool seat 25 and secured thereto by screws 38 mounted through holes 39 in the flange section 37. The forward portion of the chamber means 31 is open so as to be readily usable in conventional stool seats having open front sections. The inner upright surface 41 of the chamber means 31 is in substantial alignment with the inner edge of the stool seat 25 and is, therefore, extended over the enlarged opening 23 of the toilet bowl 14. A lower surface 43 of the chamber means 31 is provided with a plurality of openings 45 near the inner surface 41; the openings 45 being preferably eighteen equally spaced A2 inch diameter holes. The rear portion of the chamber means 31 formed with a laterally extended connector section 47 adapted to receive the conduit means 34 thereon as will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the filter means 33 includes a box-like housing means 49 having a removable lid member 51 mounted on a main body 53 in which is contained a filter element or member 55 and a blower mechanism 56. The main body 53 includes an upright inlet section 58 provided with a cylindrical protrusion 59 adapted to receive the conduit means 34 thereon for conveyance of air to the housing means 49. The opposite end of the main body 53 is provided 'with an outlet section 61 having an opening 62 into an intermediate chamber 64 for discharge through spaced openings 65 and 67. It is seen that the openings 65, 67, and 62 are offset relative to each other so as to prevent a direct draft being formed by the air discharged therefrom.

More specifically, the filter element 55 is generally of block shape slidably mounted between a pair of spaced, upright U-shaped brackets 69 adjacent the inlet section 58. Although numerous types of filtering structures could be used, it is preferred that the filter element 55 is constructed of a wire mesh housing 71 having activated charcoal particles 72 contained therein allowing the free flow of air therethrough during the filtering process. It is obvious that the filter element 55 can be readily replaced or the mesh housing 71 could be refilled with charcoal particles 72 after the same has been contaminated and lost its efiicicncy and effectiveness.

The blower mechanism 56 is of a centrifugal type having a rotatable blade element (not shown) powered by an electric motor 73 to discharge air through a funnel section 74. It is seen that the funnel section 74 is provided with an outer upright flange 76 connectible to a pair of spaced bolt members 78 secured to the outlet section 61 (FIG. 3). The motor 73 receives the electrical energy from a. conventional conductor 79 mountable in a standard 110 volt outlet socket 8 1; however, the actual operation of the blower mechanism 56 is regulated through the control means 36 as will be explained.

In the use and operation of the toilet stool ventilating means 12 of this invention, the air chamber means 31 is readily connectible to the undersurface of the stool seat 25 as by the screws 38 to place the plurality of holes or openings 45 extended over the upper enlarged opening 23 of the toilet bowl 14. The filter means 33 is mountable behind the toilet bowl 14 and beneath the flushing tank 17 so as to be substantially hidden and unnoticed by one in the area. The conductor 79 is readily mounted within a conventional 110 volt outlet to provide electrical energy to the filter means 33. The conduit means 34 is thereupon connected to the cylindrical protrusion 59 on the fiiter means 33 and extended to the connector section 47 on the air chamber means 31. It is obvious that the conduit means 34 can be constructed of a flexible hose member 82 and connectible to the filter means 33 and the air chamber means 31 in a manner substantially identical to the means of connecting a conventional vacuum hose to its related elements. As shown in FIG. 2, the stool seat 25 is connected to the clamp means 29 as by the hinge 27 and may be movable into an upright position as is commonly done in conventional toilet stool structures. The clamp means 29 is provided with a laterally extended main body 84 having an integral downwardly depending support portion 85 positioned adjacent but spaced above the adjacent rim portion 22 of hte toilet bowl 14. The main body 84 is provided with a downwardly extended bolt member 87 mounted within a stepped opening 88 in the toilet bowl 14 and having a spring member 91 mounted about the bolt member 87 to maintain the stooi seat 25 in a slightly elevated position in this area relative to the toilet bowl 14. The lower portion of the bolt member 87 receives a nut member 92 to maintain the same in the assembled condition whereupon it is seen that the stool seat 25 is movable downwardly during usage of the facilities so as to place the support portion 85 in contact with the adiacent rim portion 22 to provide rigid support thereto.

The control means 36 includes a normally opened switch member 94 connected to the undersurface of the rim portion 22 of the toilet bowl 14 and having a laterally extended lever arm 95 engageable with the lower surface of the bolt member 87. The switch member 94 is connected by conductors 97 to the electric motor 73 to activate the same when the switch member 94 is moved from the normally opened to the closed position. It is seen that the stool seat 25 and main body 84 will move as a unit due to abutting portions shown around the hinge pins 27. Therefore, it is obvious that on placing weight upon the stool seat 25, the main body 84 and interconnected bolt member 87 move downwardly to contact and trip the lever arm 95 to the dotted position as shown in FIG. 2 whereupon the circuit is closed from the conductor 79 to the switch member 94 land through conductors 97 to the motor 73 to energize the blower mechanism 56. When the blower mechanism 56 is energized, it is obvious that vacuum is created through the conduit means 34 and into the air chamber means 31 so as to draw the stale and offensive air from within the toilet bowl 14 through the activated charcoal particles 72 for discharge outwardly through the openings 62 and 65, 67. It is seen that the toilet stool ventilating means 12 is operable only when necessary, namely, when in use is indicated by a weight upon the stool seat 25 and operates to remove the odors from the air within the toilet bowl 14 and recirculate this air into the adjacent atmosphere so as not to change the heated or airconditioned status. It is obvious that a slot could be formed about the connection of the stool seat 25 and main body 84 by the hinge pins 27 for conventional upward pivotal movement of the seat 25 if desired.

In a second embodiment of this invention, a toilet stool ventilating means 98 is shown in FIG. 4 having an air chamber means 99 connectible to the upper rim section 22 of the toilet bowl 14 to convey air therefrom through the conduit means 34 to the filter means 33. In this embodiment, the filter means 33, the control means 36 (not shown), and the conduit means 34 are identical to those previously described and further discussion thereof is not deemed necessary. The air chamber means 99 is provided with an oval shaped main body 101 of rectangular shape in transverse cross section having a plurality of spaced downwardly extended Z-shaped bracket members 103 engageable with the undersurface of the rim section 22 and secured to the main body 101 as by bolts, screws, or the like. An inner upright surface 105 of the main body 101 is provided with an elongated slotted opening 106 there about so as to permit air to enter within the inner cavity of the main body 101. It is seen, therefore, that the stool seat 25 rests upon the upper surface of the air chamber means 99 and is operable in a conventional manner whereupon the air chamber means 99 remains attached to the toilet bowl 14 when the stool seat 25 is in an elevated position.

In the use and operation of the toilet stool ventilating means 98 of this invention, it is seen that the air chamber means 99 is operable in a substantially identical manner to the air chamber means 31 previously described whereupon the air is drawn through the conduit means 34 and the filter means 33 for the purification of air from within the toilet bowl 14. The attachment of the air chamber means 99 to the toilet bowl 14 permits the same to extend about the entire periphery of the rim sides 22 allowing greater air flow capacity through the continuous slotted opening 106 for greater efficiency.

In a third embodiment of a toilet stool ventilating means 110 of this invention as shown in FIG. 5, the identical filter means 33, conduit means 34, and the control means 36 is used whereupon the previously described air chamber means 31 and 99 attachable to the stool seat 25 and the rim section 22, respectively, have been replaced by a stool structure 112 whereupon an upper flange or rim section 114 of a toilet bowl 116 is provided with a built-in air chamber 118 about its periphery having an elongated space or slotted opening 120 adapted to receive air therein. Therefore, it is seen that the specially constructed toilet stool structure 112 is provided with a rearward opening molded therein connectible to the conduit means 34 so as to present an attractively appearing structure being highly efiicient in operation. It is obvious that the use and operation of the toilet stool ventilating means 110 of this embodiment is substantially identical to those previously described and further discussion thereof is not necessary.

It is seen that the toilet stool ventilating means of this invention provides a compact, easily hidden structure readily connectible to conventional toilet stool structures and stool seats or can be molded in a specially designed toilet bowl structure operable in a highly efficient manner to remove air therefrom only when required due to usage of the toilet stool facility. It is seen that toilet stool ventilating means of this invention is simple to operate, does not effect the adjacent atmospheric conditions, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of preferred specific embodiments of applicants toilet stool ventilating means, relatively simple means have been provided easily attachable to conventional toilet stools so as to provide eflicient and eifective means of removing odors from the immediate area as required.

While the invention has been described in connection with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. On a toilet bowl mounted on a supporting floor having a flushing tank mounted on and secured to the toilet bowl operable to supply water thereto, the improvement comprising:

(a) a generally annular seat pivotally connected to the toilet bowl in an overlying relation to the enlarged upper opening of the toilet bowl,

(b) a generally annular air chamber means positioned between said seat and the toilet bowl having an inner portion overlying the upper opening of the toilet bowl, said air chamber means having an inlet area adapted to receive air from the toilet bowl,

(c) filter means having an air inlet and an outlet to convey air through a charcoal filtering element to remove odors,

(d) means to connect said air chamber means to said filter means to remove air from the toilet bowl and transfer same through said filter means to purify the air with discharge to the adjacent area,

(e) switch means mounted on said seat connected to said filter means operable on downward movement of said seat to actuate said filter means for removing air from the toilet bowl only when in use, and

(f) said switch means having a switch member engageable with a support bolt connected to said seat and a biasing means connected to the toilet bowl engageable with said seat to elevate the same and hold said switch member open and downward movement of said seat and said bolt closes said switch member to actuate said filter means.

2. A venting means as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said air chamber means is secured to the toilet bowl in an overlying relationship to the upper opening thereof,

(b) said air inlet is formed of a continuous annular slot directed inwardly to pull air into said air chamber means from the toilet bowl,

(c) said filter means having a housing means, a blower mechanism mounted in said housing means between said air inlet and outlet, and said outlet discharging air into an intermediate chamber, and

(d) said intermediate chamber having a discharge opening off-set relative said air inlet thereby preventing a direct draft air discharge from said filter means.

3. A venting means as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said filter means having a housing, an inlet section in said housing to receive air from said air chamber means, a blower means mounted in said housing, an outlet section in said housing to discharge air from said blower means into an intermediate chamber for flow transversely of said housing, and a filtering member mounted in said housing between said blower means and said outlet section to remove odors from air conveyed through said housing,

(b) said filtering member removably mounted in said housing having activated charcoal particles contained in a mesh screen housing being readily replaceable, and

(c) said intermediate chamber having discharge openings off-set relative to said outlet section to prevent a direct draft discharge from said filter means.

(References on following page) 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bruder 4-217 Cameron 4213 Root 4-213 5 Cole 4213 Ronning 4213 Gerger 4217 Allen et a1. 4213 Witherell 4-213 8 3,020,564 2/1962 Chodacki et a1. 4-213 3,332,089 7/1967 Wilton 4213 FOREIGN PATENTS 849,481 8/1939 France. 394,070 11/ 1965 Switzerland.

LAVERENE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner 

